Biography

Ninth-year offensive lineman who returns for his second stint with the Lions after beginning his career in Detroit as a fourth-round draft pick (117th overall) in 2007. Spent the last four seasons with the Denver Broncos (2011-14) and has started 58 of his 67 career games in the NFL. Has also started in four of the seven postseason games he has played in.

TRANSACTIONS

Signed by the Detroit Lions as a free agent on May 12, 2015.

Released by the Steelers on March 2, 2015.

Signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers to a two-year contract on March 21, 2014.

Released by the Saints on March 7, 2014.

Re-signed by the Saints as an unrestricted free agent on July 29, 2011.

Re-signed by the Saints as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract on June 18, 2010.

Re-signed by the Saints as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract on April 24, 2009.

Re-signed by the Saints on January 29, 2007.

Released by the Saints on November 2, 2006.<.li>

Signed by the Saints on January 4, 2006 to a Reserve/Future contract on January 4, 2006.

Re-signed by the Saints to the practice squad on December 15, 2005.

Released by the Saints on December 12, 2005.

Signed by the Saints to the active roster on November 16, 2005.

Signed by the New Orleans Saints to the practice squad on September 26, 2005.<.li>

Released by the Browns on August 29, 2005.

Signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 29, 2005.

PROJoins Lions WRs Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate as a veteran presence in Detroit’s receiver room in 2015 and brings 115 career games (32) to the team following previous stops in New Orleans (2006-13) and Pittsburgh (2014). Entering his 10th NFL season, his career totals include 360 receptions, 4,479 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns, as well as two carries for seven yards and one touchdown. As a return man, has fielded 47 punt returns for 387 yards and 18 kickoff returns for 354 yards.

Entering the 2015 season, he ranked seventh on the Saints’ all-time list for career receiving yards with 4,281, fifth in receptions with 346 and fifth in receiving touchdowns with 38.

Member of the Saints Super Bowl XLIV win over Indianapolis following the 2009 NFL season, where he scored on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter of the game to put the Saints up seven points.

Heading into the 2015 season, he has eight career 100-yard receiving games and seven multi-touchdown games.

Named the Saints’ Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2012.

2014: In his only season with the Steelers, caught 14 balls for 198 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games (two starts) with the club. Was inactive due to a groin injury in Week 1 and 2 and also missed the AFC Wild Card game.

Recorded his first reception as a Steeler on a 12-yard grab vs. Tampa Bay (9/28).

Scored on a 26-yard reception, his only catch of the game, in his first start as a Steeler at Cleveland (10/12).

2013: Played in 13 games in his final season in New Orleans, making five starts and only missing three games (Weeks 3-5) on the inactive list due to a hand injury. Totaled 37 receptions for 457 yards with two receiving touchdowns in the regular season, and hauled in four receptions for 51 yards and his first-career postseason receiving touchdown in both postseason games.

Grabbed his first touchdown reception of the season on a 15-yard pass at Buffalo (10/27).

Registered a season-long 44-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Tampa Bay (12/29), marking the 38th touchdown of his career and moving him into fifth place on the Saints’ all-time list for receiving touchdowns.

Recorded his first career postseason receiving touchdown on a 24-yard pass in the team’s NFC Wild Card matchup with Philadelphia (1/4)

2012: Saw action in 15 games (seven starts) and racked up a career-high 1,041 receiving yards on 65 receptions, missing only one game due to a hamstring injury. Totaled four 100-yard receiving games and six touchdowns en route to his first career 1,000-yard season.

Alongside WR Marques Colston, the duo became the second pair of receivers in Saints History to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.

2011: Missed the season opener and finale due to injury but managed to play in 14 games (seven starts) and finish with 52 catches for 627 yards and eight touchdowns.

Set a career high with nine receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown, adding a two-point conversion late in the game to seal the team’s win over Houston (9/25).

2010: Finished second on the team in receptions (66) and receiving yards (763) but led the Saints with eight receiving touchdowns. Also led the team with 21 receptions on third down, which tied for eighth in the NFC and 13th in the NFL. In the team’s lone postseason contest, registered career postseason highs in receptions (four) and receiving yards (49).

Grabbed a career high 149 receiving yards on six receptions with two receiving touchdowns vs. Atlanta (9/29), marking his fourth career 100-yard receiving game and fourth career multi-touchdown game.

2009: Hampered by hamstring and ankle injuries that caused him to only play in seven games, but finished with 14 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

2008: Led the Saints in three receiving categories, including receptions (79), receiving yards (928) and receiving touchdowns (10). Also set a then-club record by recording a receiving touchdown in five-consecutive games.

Saw his first 100-yard receiving game with a 101-yard performance vs. San Francisco (9/28), as well as his first career multi touchdown game (two).

2007: Played in all 16 games for the first time in his NFL career, making four starts and totaling 32 catches for 302 yards and two touchdowns. Led the team with 20 punt returns for 185 yards and ranked 11th in the NFL with a 9.8 yards per punt return average.

2006: Saw action in four games (Weeks 2-5) before being released by the Saints on October 29, 2006. Was signed back to the team’s practice squad on October 30 and spent the remainder of the season with the team.

2006: Spent time on and off the Saints’ active roster and practice squad, but did not see game action.

COLLEGEA First Team All-MAC selection in 2003 and 2004, saw action in 50 games for the Toledo Rockets and finished his collegiate career with 4,146 all-purpose yards. Set a school record with 222 receptions for 2,776 yards and 25 touchdowns, adding 42 kickoff returns for 902 yards and 399 yards and two scores on punt returns for his career. Only player in Toledo history to gain more than 1,000 receiving yards twice.

PERSONALAttended Westerville South (Ohio) High School where he set state high school records for receptions (103) and touchdown grabs (24) as a senior.

Inducted into the University of Toledo’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

Brother, Nick, also played wide receiver at Toledo and currently plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

Has partnered with several of his past Saints teammates to have homes in New Orleans built for families in need.

Has hosted charity softball events in recent years to benefit his foundation.